While hardwood flooring is a beautiful feature to include in your home, it is not always the best fit for all homeowners. Whether it is simply too expensive, or it is not your cup of tea, there are a range of alternatives available for you to choose from for your flooring.
Below are some of our top choices when searching for the perfect alternative to hardwood flooring:
Engineered Hardwood Floors
Engineered hardwood flooring is a great way to get the hardwood look without the cost or need for ongoing maintenance. Engineered hardwood floors are also easier to install, less prone to damage by moisture, and is great for multiple rooms in the home.
Wood-Look Tiles
Another great alternative to hardwood flooring is wood look-tiles. Wood-look tiles are waterproof and available in a variety of styles, textures, and shades, so your choices are endless.
Many homeowners install wood look tiles in areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and hallways. Residents living in warm weather love this type of flooring because wood look tiles keep your rooms a bit cooler during summer months and hotter weather. Installation is also pretty simple with this type of flooring as the materials go right on top of a concrete base.
Laminate Flooring
If you are on a budget, laminate flooring is a terrific alternative to hardwood flooring. The installation process is quick and easy because the materials click together and interlock. Laminate flooring is able to be installed on top of tile or concrete base flooring too.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring has become more and more popular over the recent years and is a fantastic alternative to hardwood flooring. While some people think of bamboo flooring as hardwood flooring, it is actually classified as a grass. It’s a versatile type of flooring that can be glued right onto concrete base floorings.
Bamboo flooring is less durable compared to hardwood floors and is prone to scratches and scuff marks, so ongoing maintenance is often required. In addition, bamboo flooring is not waterproof, so it is not recommended to place this in areas that see frequent spills or leaks.
Cork Flooring
Finally, cork flooring is another sufficient option over hardwood flooring. Because of the softness of the flooring, it feels great to walk on. In fact, it is much more comfortable to stand for longer periods of time on this type of flooring compared to hardwood flooring. In addition, cork flooring in environmentally-friendly.
On the downside, it does not come in a wide variety of styles, shades, or colors, so your choices there are a bit limited.